Yunnan 06: Healing The Body, Balancing The Mind...

“Hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once...” - Chinese proverb

(Cordyceps Sinensis, a rare fungus of caterpillars)

Day 06: 29 August 2025 (Friday)
Route: Shangri-la - Potatso National Park - Lijiang Old Town
Hotel: Lijiang Manbai Haoting Hotel

I enjoyed a quiet moment in the morning.

Waking up to the crisp mountain air, I could feel the thinness of the air - every step slower, every breath deeper. I kept my herbal medicine close at hand, a simple remedy for AMS, and a quiet comfort as I adjusted to the highlands. I had a simple breakfast and a cup of chinese tea. The gentle aroma and the warmth feeling in my hands made the early morning feel calm and unhurried - a perfect start before the day’s long journey.

(A Chinese tea brewing in the early morning)

This morning we visited Potatso National Park located 23 km from the hotel. Potatso National Park is in Shangri-La Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is famous for being the first national park in mainland China that meets international standards (IUCN). It has two lakes, Bita and Shudu lakes, a visitor center, several interesting minority villages, lush forests and pasture views. From the visitor center a bus takes visitors to the first stop, 13 km away. There are several kilometers of raised wooden walkways around the 300-acre Shudu Lake. The group took a boat ride around the lake and disembarked at the bus pick up point.

(Taking a group photo in the heavy rain)

(Waiting for the bus to Shudu Lake)

(There are two popular short trails and a 6 km longer trail)

(We had ample time for the shorter trek)

(Crystal clear waters are enjoyed by wild ducks and cranes)

(The wondering wild Yaks in the National Park)

(Patriotic ladies by the Shudu Lake)

(Crossing the Shudu Lake on the green shuttle boat)

(At an elevation of 3,705 meters, this park is an alpine gem)

(A neat garden outside the Visitor Centre)

(Taking the Yak home...)

We had lunch at a Muslim Halal Food in Shangri-la. From Shangri-la we travelled about 205 km to Lijiang with one brief comfort stop at the R&R.

(A simple lunch in Shangri-la Muslim Restaurant)

(Trophies of Yak heads on the wall of the restaurant)

(The sceneries along the route)

(Fruits vendors bracing the rain at the R&R)

In Lijiang we visited a Herbal Medicine Center. As it was already late afternoon, we performed our jamak prayers first before we began with the tour of the Chinese Herbal Medicine Center. We had the opportunity to learn about Cordyceps sinensis, a rare fungus of caterpillar found in the high-altitude regions of Tibet, Yunnan, Qinghai, and Sichuan. It is highly prized in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for boosting energy, lung health, kidney function, and immunity. Other Chinese herbal medicinal products are also sold here.

(Historical figures associated with TCM)

(Listening to explanation on TCM)

(Various Chinese medicines on display and for sale)

(The sales of TCM has been strictly regulated)

We were back in Lijiang and we were having a halal yak hot pot dinner tonight! A yak meat hot pot meal, a popular communal meal, is a hearty and nutritious Tibetan meal featuring tender, flavorful yak meat simmered in a rich broth with vegetables and spices, served with dipping sauces. High-quality, tender yak meat, often served as thin slices, is the star of this dish. Yak meat has a unique, delicate, and slightly sweeter taste than beef, offering a savory, spicy, and deeply comforting experience. It was tasty and delicious. A fitting dish on our final night in Lijiang, adding another layer to our adventure.

(A halal Yak meat hotpot meal for dinner)

(Our first experience of eating Yak meat)

After a hearty dinner we checked in Lijiang Manbai Haoting Hotel for the night. We were given a family room with Peppa-pig themed deco complete with a small teepee tent and a play rug.

(A themed family room)

👈Yunnan 05: A Double Rainbow at A Tibetan Town...

Yunnan 07: From Tea Treasures to Trendy Streets...👉